BABY PLANES

Waipa Post, Volume 38, Issue 2286, 28 March 1929, Page 8

BABY PLANES

MOTOR CYCLES OF THE AIR,

With differentiation of flying machines into various types, "baby" airplanes are appearing: on the scene, cheap to buy, and easily managed (remarks the San Francisco Chronicle). Of utmost simplicity is an airplane newly patented by Henry Mathat, of San Francisco, which is, in effect, an air motor cycle, running on wheels set tandent-wise. The frame is a simple arrangement of tubes, two of which, parallel to each other, form the chassis. Connected to these tubes is a small supporting plane at the rear. The relatively large front wing is held in a tubular frame formed of two U-shaped halves which are hioned together by several clamps and properly braced. The two lengths-wise tubes mentioned have secured to their front ends trunnions through which passes a horizontal shaft. Coiled on

the ends of this shaft are springs, wound opposite ways and connected to the trunnions, so that the shaft can be rotated.

The front wing is braced by cables connected to the ends .of the crossshaft, which carries a fork that holds the front wheel. Foot rests, are provided at the sides of the fork, the turning of which is controlled by handle bars in the manner of a bicycle.

A motor cycle engine mounted on the frame of the machine carries the propeller directly in front of the airman. In the air, he steers with the handle bars, which turn the propeller to the right or the left. By bearing down or up on the handle bars against the tension of the springs, he partly rotates the cross-shaft, thereby giving the propeller an upward or downward pull, for ascent or descent.

When the machine is not Wanted for use the U-shaped halves of the

large front wing are released from the clamp and folded together, making it practicable to house the plane in a small building.